Gout in the Joint - Knee, Toe, Finger and Other Common
Inflammatory Arthritis
Because of wrong diet, inactive lifestyle and obesity, many people suffer
from gout these days. What is gout? What are the causes of gout? What are
the first signs of gout attacks? What are the symptoms of gout? Can you
have gout of the knee joint, toe or even finger? Can gout cause joint
pain, fever, body aches, itching and swelling? How long can gout pain
remain?
What is gout?
Gout is a rheumatoid form of arthritis that causes the inflammation, joint
pain and swelling especially in the toe, knee and ankle, also reducing their
mobility. Gout usually appears in midlife and primarily in males. It can be
hereditary or secondary to process of other disease.
Causes of gout
Gout is mainly caused by the clustering of uric acid crystals in the arteries,
obstructing the normal blood flow and causing inflammation. Uric acid is a
residual product that is excreted from the body through urine during
synthesis of purine - a substance that presents in fat meats, fish, some dairy
products and vegetables. The level of uric acid can be found and measured
in the blood.
In normal quantities, uric acid is neutral to the human. But, when there’s an
excessive production of uric acid or renal insufficiency in eliminating the
surplus of uric acid or other metabolic problems in the body, uric acid will
retain, build up and deposit in many different joints in the form of uric acid
crystals. These crystals are responsible for the inflammation called gouty
arthritis or acute gout. The condition where there is a rise in blood’s uric
acid level is called hyperuricaemia.
Another form of gout, referred to as pseudo-gout, occurs due to the
accumulation of crystallized calcium in the joints, instead of uric acid.
First signs of gout attacks
In most cases, the first gout signs appear at the level of the big toe. The
skin around the affected region turns yellow, appears to be stretched and
bruised. The regions affected by gout become very sensitive. It even causes
the sufferers can’t tolerate clothing or shoes. Gout attacks in the region of
the big toe are referred to as podagra and they involve inflammation,
swelling, pain and a sensation of burning. Podagra can also occur due to
acquired injuries or intense physical effort that involves the lower limbs.
Apart from the region of the toes, recurrent attacks also involve pain and
inflammation of the knees, elbows, shoulders, wrists and fingers. Most types
of gout attacks can generate low to moderate fever and sweating.
And when gout becomes chronic, the damage to the joint is deforming and
crippling. Chronic gout attacks are usually long-lasting and they occur in
multiple regions of the body.
Main symptoms of gout
The main symptoms of gout are severe pain and swelling in joints. It’s the
crystallized and lodged of uric acid in the joints that cause joint pain. The
joint gets hot, swollen and tender. In most cases, the pain attacks seem to
amplify at night causing sleeping difficulty to many patients. How long can
gout pain remain? The pain may remain anywhere from a few minutes to a
few hours and in some cases, even days. As the disease progresses, the
duration of gout attacks can exceed 7-10 days.
Other common symptoms of gout
Other common gout symptoms include fever, discomfort, sourness, malaise,
tachycardia, elevations in skin temperature, itching sensations, body
aches, water retention, inflammation and intense pain of the affected
area, i.e. gout in the knee cause joint pain in the knee whereas gout in the
finger or toe cause pain in finger or toe. The skin in the affected regions
often looks stretched. Gouty arthritis may also cause back pain since it
affects the joints.
Site of gout attacks
Can you have gout of the knee joints, toe or even finger? Sure, you can. In
fact, gout mostly attacks the joints of the lower body limbs, such as toes,
heels, ankles and knees. In some cases, gout may attack and cause
inflammation of the upper body such as elbows, spine, shoulders, fingers
and hand wrists. Skin and soft tissue such as tendons and muscles can also
be affected by the disease, causing swelling and decreasing of their
flexibility and elasticity. Gout usually effects one joint at a time, then may
move from one joint to affect another joint. The most common site for gout
attacks is probably the big toe joint. Read also other possible causes of
swollen toes: Swelling on Bottom of Feet at Toes, Red Itchy Toes.
Risk factor in common form of gout attacks
Genetic
Most cases of gout are hereditary which occur due to genetic predisposition
to the disease such as genetically acquired renal dysfunctions or abnormal
uric acid levels.
Age and gender
Gout predominantly affects middle age and elderly people, rarely occurring
in young adults or children. Although it occurs in both genders, gout has the
highest occurrence in men. Women usually develop the disease at more
advanced stages of life, particularly after menopause.
Lifestyle
Besides, improper diet, sedentary lifestyle and obesity may increase the risk
of developing gout. Gout occurs more often in people who consume large
amounts of purine-rich foods. Being overweight increase the production of
uric acid and the risks of injury at the level of the joint. Smoking and high
consumption of alcohol and caffeine also affect the secretion of uric acid,
contributing to its retention within the body.
Physiological abnormalities
Other factors that may facilitate the development of gout are chronic
anemia, abnormal activity of the enzymes that control purine synthesis,
prolonged treatments with diuretics (such as thiazide diuretics to control
blood pressure), previous surgeries, abnormal kidney function, certain types
of cancer, the presence of certain diseases that affect blood circulation or
extreme medical treatments such as chemotherapy.
In conclusion, gout is a form of arthritis that causes inflammation of the
joint. It can affect the knee joint, toe and even finger causing pain in the
affected area. Some of the most common symptoms of gout include pain,
inflammation, discomfort, swelling, fever, body aches and itching. Gout
pain can remain for just a few minutes to a few hours and in worse cases,
even days.
Inflammatory Arthritis
Among all the triggers of an increased uric acid levels and gout symptoms,
the quantity and the type of food consumed seem to play a very important
role. Thus, an important aspect of treating gout is to decrease the uric acid
levels throughgood foods diets to control and prevent gout attacks and bad
foods restrictions to remedy gout. Here you will find some information on
diet for gout patients, list of foods to avoid that cause gout attacks, foods
to eat to help in getting rid of gout and home remedies or alternative
treatment to cure gout.
Gout diets
There’re some foods to avoid that causes gout attacks. These include foods
that are rich in saturated fats and purines since they’re the main
contributors to the excessive secretion of uric acid in gout patients. So, the
main goal from the diet for gout patients will be to bring down the serum
uric acid levels by taking the good foods for gout and reducing the dietary
intake of purines and saturated fats which are bad for gout.
Foods to eat to help gout
The best diet for gout patients is 80 percent raw food or if possible organic
food. These include:
Foods consist of complex carbohydrates (like potatoes, rice, whole cereal
products, pasta, etc.), fresh fruits, raw vegetables, soy and low-fat dairy
products (such as skim-milk and light yogurt) are known to prevent the
occurrence of episodic symptoms and to speed up the amelioration of
already existent gout attacks. Low-fat dairy products can normalize serum
uric acid concentration and thus they are recommended to all people
affected by gout.
Increasing your intake of vegetables and fruits will also help in preventing
further gout attacks.
Foods like chicken meat and grains are some of the well tolerated diet
among gout patients.
Drink plenty of water to help the body flush out the excess of uric acid. It is
strongly recommended drinking at least 2 liters of water a day.
List of foods to avoid that causes gout attacks
Avoid foods that are high in purines, as they account for approximately 50
percent of the uric acid produced in the body. Some of the foods which are
high in purines and bad for gout:
1. Red meats such as pork, poultry, beef and lamb
2. Some fish, e.g. herring, anchovies, sardines and mackerel
3. Seafood like oysters, caviar, calamari, scallops, sushi and crabs
4. Organ meats include liver, sweetbreads, brains, kidney, tongue,
5. Even some vegetables like lentils, spinach, beans, cauliflower and
tripe, fish roe, meat gravies and meat extracts
peas and high-fat dairy products are known to contain some amounts
of purines.
Try to replace red meats, seafood and organ meats with small portions of
boiled, steamed, grilled or roasted white meat.
It is essential to avoid frying your meals, as greasy foods are not well
tolerated by people who suffer from gout.
Gout sufferers should also limit their intake of simple carbohydrates
(sweets), as they also facilitate the progression of the disease.
Also, the consumption of alcohol should be reduced, as it increases the
amount of uric acid produced by the organism. Smoking can aggravate
the symptoms of gout too, slowing the natural process of healing and
interfering in the right circulation of the blood.
Several good foods for gout that may help control and alleviate the
symptoms of gout:
Vitamin C, contained by most fruits, helps strengthen the immune system.
It is a powerful natural anti-oxidant which helps in easing the symptoms of
gout.
Pectin helps the joints remain flexible.
Onions protect the circulatory system and are a powerful antibiotic. They're
good for urinary infections, and their diuretic activity helps with arthritis,
rheumatism and gout.
Beets are richer than spinach in iron and other minerals. In cases of gout,
the iron helps oxygenate and purify the bloodstream.
Cherries
From so many fruit choices, cherries can be considered one of the good
foods to get rid of gout you can choose from. Besides its delightful taste,
cherries have anti-inflammatory, sedative and analgesic attributes, and they
can be very helpful in controlling and reducing the clinical manifestations of
gout. A frequent intake of cherries can remarkably reduce the duration and
the intensity of gout attacks, by controlling uric acid levels in the body. In
other words, cherries act as a laxative agent, helping the process of
excretion. This is evidenced by research which revealed that by including
cherries in their diet, gout sufferers are able to eliminate more uric acid
through urine.
Sweet cherries
Sweet cherries are rich in natural fibers. They contain few calories and also
melatonin, a chemical that has sedative and analgesic effects. In addition,
this type of cherries contains a powerful natural antioxidant that acts
similarly to vitamin C.
The intake of sweet cherries can ease recurrent gout pain. Sweet cherries
can also lower the levels of inflammatory substances such as nitric oxide
and C-reactive protein, chemicals that are related to gout, diabetes and
heart disease.
Sour cherries
Sour cherries are rich in vitamin A, they contain very few calories and they
can be safely introduced in any gout diet.
Sour cherries seem to reduce gout pain and inflammation and they also
contain natural antioxidants that can decongest the arteries clogged with
uric acid crystals.
Vitamin B12
You can also include vitamin B12 supplements (or better yet eat foods that
are rich in vitamin B12 such as meat, poultry, eggs and dairy products) in
your diet. But, remember to include them in moderate levels since most of
them also contain purine.
Black berries
Black berries are great for preventing an attack of gout. Plus, don’t forget
to add raw seeds such as pumpkin and flax seeds to your diet. Likewise, fish
oil supplements that contain omega 3 fatty acids are ideal for relieving joint
inflammation.
Burdock root
Burdock root can help removing the buildup of body acidic waste and
keeping normal uric acid levels in the body.
There you have it! Various information about diet for gout patients, list of
foods to avoid that causes gout attacks,choices of good foods for gout and
some foods to eat that may help to control and alleviate the symptoms of
gout. Although many drugs can lower down the uric acid level in the body,
control gout attacks and reduce many symptoms of gout, you still need to
aid the amelioration of the gout symptoms and attacks by following an
appropriate diet for gout patients and making some changes in your
lifestyle.
